What is a significant effect of citizen journalism?

Citizen journalism plays a crucial role in the modern media landscape by empowering individuals to share their own news and perspectives, often from unique vantage points that traditional media outlets may overlook. This democratization of information allows for a diversity of voices and stories, enabling ordinary people to document events, express opinions, and hold powerful entities accountable.

Through platforms like social media, blogs, and community news sites, individuals can disseminate information quickly and reach wide audiences, which can challenge mainstream narratives and highlight underrepresented issues. This phenomenon not only informs the public but also encourages active participation in discourse around significant social and political topics.

The other options do not align with the reality of citizen journalism. The notion that citizen journalism guarantees accuracy is misleading, as it does not replace traditional media’s responsibility for fact-checking. The idea that it restricts news coverage to major media outlets runs counter to the essence of citizen journalism, which aims to diversify and expand coverage. Finally, citizen journalism often increases public engagement with news, countering the idea that it minimizes such engagement.